Former Eagle Rock Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez was sworn in Tuesday as a member of the House of Representatives, one month after he defeated public interest attorney and fellow Democrat Robert Lee Ahn in a special election in the 34th Congressional District.

The special election was prompted by the appointment of then-Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, as attorney general, succeeding Kamala Harris, who was elected to the U.S. Senate. Becerra endorsed Gomez, who said ran “to fight” President Donald Trump.

“My approach to policy, politics and government is shaped by experiences of my family and of my community,” Gomez said in his first floor speech after taking the oath of office.

“As the son of immigrants who believes in this country and everything it promises, I have a profound commitment to protecting the rights of other immigrant families, no matter where they are from or the god they worship.”

He also said he supports “universal health care,” recalling that he spent a week in the hospital as a child and it “almost bankrupted my family.

“I believe young people from working families should have access to debt-free education because I know from my own experience that a high-school degree is not always enough, and a higher education can change a life. I believe everyone deserves access to clean air and water, and that climate change has exacerbated this challenge.”

“And lastly, to the people of California’s 34th district, I know why you sent me to Congress — to fight for our families, our state and our values. And I will do it every single day. I won’t let you down.”

Gomez was recently criticized by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R- Bakersfield, for delaying his swearing-in ceremony for weeks. Some Republicans suggested he was intentionally stalling so he could support Democratic measures pending in the state Legislature.

Gomez initially cited family conflicts for the delay in the ceremony, but it soon became clear Gomez was holding on to his assembly seat to help fellow Democrats pass a bill renewing the state’s cap and trade program, which he never got the chance to do as negotiations dragged on into late last week.

Gomez was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from UCLA, then earned a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University.

Gomez was the political director of the United Nurses Association of California and worked with several other unions, and also worked in the offices of then-Councilman Mike Feuer and then-Rep. Hilda Solis. He was elected to the Assembly in 2012, and re-elected in 2014 and 2016.

Gomez is the only Democrat to win a special election since President Trump’s inauguration.

Gomez’ assembly seat will be filled during a special election, on a date to be set Gov. Brown. As many as 9 candidates have already announced they will run to replace him.

Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez will be sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives later this month after defeating public interest attorney and fellow Democrat Robert Lee Ahn in a special election in the 34th Congressional District.

Gomez, D-Eagle Rock, defeated Ahn, 60.12-39.88 percent, according to semi-official results released Wednesday by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

Many outstanding ballots remain to be counted, according to Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan. An update on the ballot count will be released Friday, Logan said.

The results are tentatively scheduled to be certified on June 16,
with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors scheduled to declare the results official on June 20, Logan said.

The special election was prompted by the appointment of then-Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, as attorney general, succeeding Kamala Harris, who was elected to the U.S. Senate. Becerra endorsed Gomez, who said he hopes to “continue to build an inclusive and diverse country that values people from all walks of life.”

Both Gomez and Ahn are sons of immigrants.

At his election headquarters in Highland Park Tuesday night, Gomez called his win a victory for “California values.”

Jimmy Gomez and his supporters celebrate his victory Tuesday. (Jimmy Gomez for Congress)

“Our communities came together to say ‘yes’ to progressive, California values. It’s been a privilege to run as your candidate and I am honored to be headed to Washington as your next representative in Congress,” Gomez said in statement posted on his campaign website.

You believed in our effort and it made all the difference. And we’re just getting started. I look forward to working with you — here in Los Angeles and in our nation’s capital — to ensure that we make the progress we need and deserve in the days and years to come.”

During the campaign, Gomez said he ran “to fight” President Donald Trump.

“I’ve always believed that in times like these it’s important to run towards the fight and not away from it,” Gomez told City News Service.

“From expanding paid family leave, to leading the nation in the fight against climate change, we’ve demonstrated that progressive values are achievable. In Congress, I will work to build a new progressive coalition that puts our values first.”

Gomez concedes that the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, “was not perfect,” but he said he will fight to protect the gains made through the legislation. He has also called for immigration reform and vows to fight rollbacks by “climate change deniers.”

The assemblyman racked-up the endorsements of a who’s who in state Democratic politics, including Gov. Jerry Brown, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Senate Leader Kevin De Leon and Sup. Hilda Solis among others. He also earned the endorsement of the California Democratic Party and Our Revolution, a progressive group with roots in the Sen. Bernie Sanders campaign for president, as well as numerous labor groups. United Farmworker co-founder Dolores Huerta was among those who spent the last days before the election working to get the vote out for Gomez.

Gomez was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from UCLA, then earned a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard University.

Gomez was the political director of the United Nurses Association of California and worked with several other unions, and also worked in the offices of then-Councilman Mike Feuer and then-Rep. Hilda Solis. He was elected to the Assembly in 2012, and re-elected in 2014 and 2016.

In the April 4 primary, Gomez topped the 24-candidate field, collecting roughly 25 percent of the vote, with Ahn second with 22 percent. Because no candidate received a majority, Gomez and Ahn were forced into Tuesday’s runoff.

The district stretches roughly from Koreatown in the west to the Long Beach (710) Freeway in the east and from the Santa Monica (10) Freeway in the south to the Ventura (134) Freeway in the north. It includes downtown Los Angeles, the Westlake district, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights andLincoln Heights.

Ahn, a Korean American, was looking to break through in a traditionally Latino district, saying there has not been a “Korean voice in Congress” for two decades, “and never from the Democratic Party.” He painted himself as a political outsider not beholden to special interests.

A Los Angeles native, Ahn has a law degree from USC and practiced law for a time before at a variety of Southland firms. He later joined his family’s real estate and asset- management business.

Gomez said he spoke to Ahn Tuesday night by phone and “welcomed his congratulations on our victory. I made it clear that his historic run will be remembered and that we will join together to build a stronger Los Angeles for everyone,” Gomez said.

Gomez’s victory creates the need for a special election to fill his Assembly seat. Former Montebello Unified School District Board Member David Vela announced Wednesday he will run for the seat. Community advocate and former 34th congressional district candidate, Wendy Carrillo, has also thrown her hat into the ring.

Following the April 4 primary, in which over half the candidates running for the congressional seat were women, former state senator Martha Escutia called on women to unite behind a single woman candidate, rather than continuing to split the vote. She and others have suggested backing one of the former candidates for congress.

The appointment of Xavier Becerra to become State Attorney General has left a big hole to fill in California’s congressional delegation.

It’s especially true now that Pres. Trump has set upon a path that could have some alarming consequences for gains made in the Golden State to protect workers rights, the climate, immigrants in the country without permission, and access to affordable health care.

Gomez currently represents much of the district in the State Assembly. When it comes to understanding how government works, we believe he is by far the more experienced of the two candidates in next Tuesday’s Special Election runoff.

Gomez will have some very big shoes to fill when it comes to replacing Becerra, who after two decades rose to be one of the top ranking and most influential Democrats in Congress before departing for Sacramento. Articulate, serious, with a depth of knowledge on many issues, Becerra was well versed and accomplished when it came to bringing things — resources and money — home for his district and the state.

Gomez won’t have the seniority of Becerra, but he has proven he can get things done. He has earned a reputation as a progressive lawmaker, whose record includes the expansion of paid family leave, funding for river revitalization projects, and speeding up the deadline to reduce gas emissions. Gomez pushed for at least 25 percent of the state’s cap-and-trade dollars to go to disadvantaged communities, and for at least 10 percent to be invested in low-income households.

We have been impressed by his interest in the needs of the local areas he has represented, such as Pico Union, Highland Park and Eagle Rock.

Gomez faced dozens of well-qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds in the Primary Election, and to his credit, a majority have now turned around and endorsed him. A slew of state and local leaders, labor groups and environmental groups have also thrown their support his way.

His challenger, Robert Lee Ahn, is smart and thoughtful, and while he and Gomez differ little on some issues, his positions are not as well flushed out as those of Gomez, and he tends to be more conservative on other issues.

If elected, Ahn would be the only Korean American in Congress, a reality that has inspired many Korean Americans to register and vote. While that’s impressive, it’s not enough to earn our endorsement.

Eastern Group Publications recognizes the potential in Jimmy Gomez. We believe he will be a thoughtful, energetic voice for the 34th District, just as we believed when we endorsed him in his runs for the Assembly.

And we have his expanding record in promoting transparency in campaign fund raising, and his present efforts to create for Californians a single payer health insurance program, as evidence of his willingness to take on tough issues.

These are hard times for the average middle class and poor American, and we believe Jimmy Gomez is the superior candidate to represent all Californians in Congress.

Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez will likely face Los Angeles Planning Commissioner and Attorney Robert Lee Ahn in a June 6 runoff in the 34th Congressional District special election, according to semi-official election results released Wednesday by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

The seat was left vacant by former Rep. Xavier Becerra’s move to Sacramento to become the state’s attorney general.

(Jimmy Gomez for Congress)

Gomez and Ahn pulled to the front of the pack of 24 candidates, 19 of them, like Gomez and Ahn, Democrats looking to represent the overwhelmingly Democratic district. Most of the candidates have never held elective office, with the exception of Gomez and former Los Angeles Unified School District board member Yolie Flores.

Gomez, D-Eagle Rock, led the field with 8,156 votes, or 28.14 percent, with Ahn coming in second with 5,504 votes, or 18.99 percent, according to the county’s unofficial election results.

Democrat Maria Cabildo, an economic development director, was third with 2,778 votes, 9.58 percent.

According to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, about 13,400 ballots still need to be counted, including questioned ballots and vote-by-mail ballots that were turned in at polling places Tuesday or are received in the mail by Friday – but postmarked on or before election day. The next update of the count is expected to be released Friday afternoon.

Because no candidate received a majority, a runoff between the top two finishers will be held June 6.

(Robert Lee Ahn for Congress)

The district stretches roughly from Koreatown in the west to the Long Beach (710) Freeway in the east and from the Santa Monica (10) Freeway in the south to the Ventura (134) Freeway in the north. It includes downtown Los Angeles, the Westlake district, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Boyle Heights and Lincoln Heights.

Twenty-three of the candidates were on the official ballot. The 24th candidate, Michelle Walker, a Democrat and community activist, qualified as a write-in candidate. Her vote total was not available Wednesday.

It’s noteworthy that more than half the candidates vying for the seat are women, many who said during candidate forums they were inspired to run following the Pres. Trump’s election, which triggered marches in support of women’s rights across the country.

Absent a major shift in the voting trend, it’s unlikely, though not impossible, one of the women candidates will pick up enough votes to move ahead of Gomez or Ahn for a place in the runoff.

It’s more likely outstanding votes for a woman will be distributed amongst all the female candidates.

The apparent failure for a woman to make it to runoff now has some political advocates looking to replace Gomez in the Assembly, should he be elected, with a woman.

Former state senator Martha Escutia, in a Facebook posting, asked if she was “naïve” to think that the women could have sat together and “agreed on ONE woman candidate to run?”

“Am I naive to hope for this?? I sincerely hope that Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez endorses a woman to replace him in the State Legislature!” she wrote Wednesday.

She called on women candidates to “consolidate please, no more debacles!”

Also coming up short were candidates with ties to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign for president. It was initially thought those ties could play in their favor in the congressional district because Sanders won the majority vote over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

But with semi-official election results putting the voter turnout at about 9 percent, some political observers are questioning whether the fervor seeing during the presidential campaign can be sustained.

The president wasn’t in the room, but he was omnipresent as congressional hopefuls tried to convince a crowd in El Sereno that he or she has what it takes to represent their interests in the era of Donald Trump.

Fourteen of the nearly two-dozen candidates running for the 34th Congressional seat left vacant when Xavier Becerra left to become State Attorney General took part in a candidate forum Feb. 28 at the El Sereno Senior Center. The seat will be filled during a Special Election on April 4, but if no candidate receives 50% plus 1 of the votes, a runoff between the two top voter getters will take place on June 6.

The 34th Congressional District spans some of Los Angeles’ most ethnically diverse and densely populated neighborhoods, running from Boyle Heights, through downtown and Northeast Los Angeles, Koreatown and the Westlake area.

Cheers, jeers and applause that often interrupt speakers at these type of forums are commonplace, but the dozens of people gathered last week appeared more intent on listening to the issues being discussed than rallying support for a single candidate.

Noticeably missing was Democratic Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, who some see as the frontrunner — and candidate favored by the Democratic Party establishment.

“Some candidates didn’t show up,” businessman Ricardo “Ricky” De La Fuente told the crowd. “I hope you consider the candidates that did show up.”

Gomez’ campaign said the assemblyman had a scheduling conflict.

Nearly all the candidates described how the recent presidential election had motivated them to run for office. As they discussed immigration, health care and the economy, it was clear their real task was convincing the crowd they have what it takes to go up against Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress on policies they believe threaten the community and the country

“We need somebody who knows how to fight, when to fight and how to be effective,” said Vanessa Aramayo, an anti-poverty, nonprofit advisor, after first describing her experience with public policy and community organizing.

For some of the candidates, like aerospace engineer Tracy Van Houten, the desire to run was fueled by Trump’s appointments to his Cabinet. “I cannot stand by and watch and see what Betsey DeVos will do to our public education” system, she said, before going on to tout her experience sending rovers to Mars.

Whoever is elected must be ready to fight, said Alejandra Campoverdi, a multicultural community advocate and former White House aide. “We need a candidate that will hit the ground running,” she said. “I understand Washington, I know the White House.”

Raymond Meza, a coordinator with Service Employees International Union Local 721, described how he successfully rallied support for an increase in the minimum wage. He argued that towing the Democratic Party line is not enough, because “If that’s all they’re going to do, nothing is going to get done.

“We need to lay the groundwork to get Trump out and make sure we don’t lose everything we fought for in the last decade.”

Pointing to the president’s recent executive orders on immigration, several shared stories of growing up with immigrant parents or being immigrants themselves. They said the issue is personal to them and the district’s large undocumented immigrant population.

“Our community is definitely under attack, we need a fighter, but that’s not enough,” said Sara Hernandez, director of the nonprofit Coro Southern California. “We need someone with a track record.”

Journalist and community activist Wendy Carrillo migrated without permission to the U.S. to escape the civil war in El Salvador and later became a citizen. She warned that recent Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have made many immigrants fear the police.

“We need to ensure federal funding is not used to give local authorities jurisdiction to act as ICE agents,” Carrillo said.

Maria Cabildo, an economic development director with Los Angeles County added that the raids are having a chilling effect on the economy.

“During the [George W.] Bush presidency we saw foreclosures in our community, that could potentially happen again,” she warned.

Campoverdi compared the fear she’s seeing to that experienced after the approval of Proposition 187, which would have prohibited undocumented immigrants from receiving public benefits but was for the most part blocked by the courts.

“That’s why we need political pressure, to lay the groundwork for immigration reform, not just a Band Aid,” she said.

Kenneth Mejia, a certified public accountant and the sole Green Party candidate, reminded the crowd that millions of people were deported under the Obama Administration. He said he’s against Trump’s border policies: “If we can open borders to billion-dollar companies, we should open borders to people,” he said.

As an immigrant who arrived to the United States as an unaccompanied minor, public administrator Sandra Mendoza called for temporarily housing if children are separated from their parents during such raids.

Steve Mac, a felony prosecutor and military officer, suggested cutting funds to ICE as a way to limit deportations to violent criminals. He said slowing down hearings before judges would force ICE to prioritize who they go after.

Trump’s plan to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act should also be a top priority for whoever is elected, the candidates said.

Tenaya Wallace, a civic engagement strategist, said ending Obamacare will be detrimental to many in the 34th District and whoever goes to Washington D.C. must be able to tell their stories, pledging she would “hold the line” on repealing the law.

Hernandez called the race an investment in the next generation of leaders, in someone who will stand up for the values of the community.

Hearing Trump insult his heritage was enough to prepare him to go face-to-face with the president, said businessman William Rodriguez-Morrison, the sole Republican in the race.

“I’ve fought for this community when I was wearing my Franklin [High School] jacket and I want to fight for you,” he promised. “I will put [Trump] in his place.”

For Carrillo, there is a need to create a movement that will bring change come 2018, when mid-term elections could put control of the Congress back in play.

Before he left, Becerra was the highest-ranking Latino in Congress, serving as Democratic Caucus chair.

Aziza Hasan, the evening’s moderator, reminded the candidates, “You have some real big shoes to fill.”

Former teacher and nonprofit leader Sara Hernandez announced her candidacy Tuesday for the 34th Congressional District seat, expected to be vacated when Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-Los Angeles, is confirmed as the state’s next attorney general.

Hernandez joins Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, journalist Wendy Carrillo and activist Kenneth Mejia in declaring their intent to run for the seat.

“We need to send a fighter and a doer to Washington with the on-the-ground experience and understanding of how public policy decisions affect everyday Angelenos,” Hernandez said. “As a former middle school teacher, I know how to deal with bullies. With Donald Trump threatening so many of our communities, I’m prepared to stand up and defend our immigrants, our public schools, our environment and our parents’ and grandparents’ retirement security.”

Hernandez has been executive director of Coro Southern California, a national leadership program. She is also a former special counsel to City Councilman Jose Huizar.

California Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed Becerra to succeed Kamala Harris, who was elected to the U.S. Senate last month. If confirmed by the state Senate and Assembly – as expected – Becerra will serve the final two years of Harris’ term and become California’s first Hispanic attorney general.

A special election would be held to fill Becerra’s seat, which represents large parts of east Los Angeles County.

On Saturday, citing health concerns, former state Assembly Speaker John Perez took himself out of the running for the seat. Perez had announced his intention to run on Dec. 1.

Los Angeles City Councilmen David Ryu, Gil Cedillo and Huizar have all declined to enter the race.

Los Angeles City Councilmen Jose Huizar and Gil Cedillo said Monday they will not run to fill the congressional seat expected to be vacated by Rep. Xavier Becerra’s appointment as state attorney general, while state Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles, former Assembly Speaker John Pérez and journalist and activists Wendy Carrillo have all announced their intentions to run.

“After careful consideration and much discussion with my wife Richelle and family, we have decided not to run for the 34th Congressional seat,” Huizar said Monday morning, adding “There is a considerable amount of work for me to complete here locally in the great City of Los Angeles and California.”

Cedillo released a statement later in the day saying that while he’s “humbled and honored by the number of calls and messages asking him to run,” he has decided that “at this point in our country’s history, the best place for me to be is right here in Los Angeles, continuing to fight every day to improve the lives of Angelenos …”

“As a Los Angeles City Councilmember, I am uniquely positioned to fight for the rights of our immigrant communities, which have once again come under attack,” he said in a written statement.

Meanwhile, Gomez has already set up a Crowdpac campaign fundraising website where he’s posted his decision to run.

Rep. Xavier Becerra, surrounded by state leaders during a press conference in Boyle Heights earlier this year. Becerra has been appointed to replace Kamala Harris as Attorney General. (EGP photo by Nancy Martinez)

Gomez said he hopes to “continue Congressman Becerra’s excellent record of representation” and to advocate for working families, by “protecting the most vulnerable among us, and standing up to the corporate interests trying to game the system.” He called the congressional seat “a once in a lifetime chance to stand up and fight for our values, our rights, and make sure that the Trump Republican party does not have a free hand in Washington.”

Gomez lives in Eagle Rock and was just elected to his third term in the Legislature.

Pérez was the first candidate to jump into the race, declaring his intention to run less than hour after Becerra’s appointment was announced by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Pérez spent four of his six years in the Assembly as speaker, the body’s ranking and most powerful position. Brown appointed Pérez to the University of California Board of Regents in 2014.

“I’m running for Congress to take these California values and our state’s visionary approach to the national level,” Pérez said in a statement. “California needs leadership who will stand up against Donald Trump, but also leadership that will fight for the poor, the middle class, for job creation, and for a vision that can help us win all across the country.”

He has already garnered some high profile endorsements, including from his cousin, former Los Angeles mayor and candidate for governor Antonio Villaraigosa, along with Rep. Karen Bass of Los Angeles, state Sen. Holly Mitchell and state Controller Betty Yee who defeated him in the race or controller in 2014.

Journalist and community activist Wendy Carrillo also announced her candidacy Monday in a post on Medium Monday. The Boyle Heights resident most recently served as host and executive producer of the public affairs program “Knowledge is Power” on KPWR radio (Power 106).

“We are living in a moment of urgency. A moment in which our country is demanding new vision, leadership and courage,” she writes. “It is obvious with the results of our recent presidential election that the same establishment ‘politics as usual’ don’t work anymore…” said Carrillo, a Salvadoran immigrant brought to the country illegally as a child who became a U.S. citizen when she was 21.

“Large segments of this country have been ignored by our representatives in Washington DC. The 34th Congressional District is no different,” Carrillo said.

On Wednesday, Estevan Montemayor, director of communications for first-term Los Angeles Councilman David Ryu, told City News Service, that his boss is exploring the option of running but had no public comment at this time. Ryu has only represented Council District Four since June 2015, when he became the first Korean-American to serve on the City Council.

L.A. Unified School Board Member Monica Garcia’s name was also floated as a possible contender, or a possible candidate for Gomez’ seat if he’s elected.

Brown appointed Becerra on Thursday to succeed fellow Democrat Kamala Harris, who was elected to the U.S. Senate last month.

If confirmed by the state Senate and Assembly – as expected – Becerra will serve the final two years of Harris’ term and become California’s first Latino attorney general.

In announcing his decision not to run, Huizar said he hopes Becerra’s successor will be “community focused.”

“The change we need in our federal government begins with an agenda that listens to the average person and steers away from politics as usual. The stakes are high. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to our core Democratic values of social justice and civil rights is very real.”

A special election would then be held to fill Becerra’s congressional seat.